# Steven Nistor

Steven Nistor (born May 22, 1979) is an American touring and studio drummer, best known for his work with Daniel Lanois and Sparks.

## Biography
### Early life

Steven Nistor was born and raised in Detroit. He attended Wayne State University where he earned a Bachelor of Jazz Studies on a full scholarship and mentored under Branford Marsalis, Ben Sidran and Kenny Werner. During this time he studied drums with Gerald Cleaver and Scott Amendola, and has since studied with Ralph Humphrey, Ra-Kalam Bob Moses and Dave Elitch.

### Career

Nistor has recorded with producers Rick Rubin, Danger Mouse, Daniel Lanois, Tucker Martine, Randall Dunn, Steve Albini, Ryan Freeland, John Hill, Warren Defever, and Scott Litt and has recorded/performed with Iron & Wine, Sam Amidon, Tinariwen, The Avett Brothers, Van Dyke Parks, Marissa Nadler, Sparklehorse, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Peter Buck, Emmylou Harris, Gnarls Barkley, Todd Rundgren, Wild Belle, Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, Leo Nocentelli, Lonnie Holley, Garth Hudson, Aoife O’Donovan, Passion Pit, The Flaming Lips, Josh Klinghoffer, Ben Sollee, Beth Orton, His Name Is Alive, Hal Willner, Trixie Whitley, Laura Veirs, Bill Frisell, Michael Gibbs, Robert Plant, Buddy Guy, Alison Krauss, Skerik, Jim White, Bernie Worrell, and is a member of the bands Sparks, Brian Blade's Mama Rosa, and WL.
He was featured twice in Modern Drummer magazine, has appeared twice as a guest on the drumming podcast I'd Hit That, has been the featured drummer on Late Night with Seth Meyers twice and has taught at Interlochen Center for the Arts as well as the Detroit Institute of Music Education. Steven has also been featured in four major motion pictures, working with directors Leos Carax, Edgar Wright, and David Lynch.

## Selected discography

| Artist | Album | Credit | Producer |
| Sparklehorse | Bird Machine | Drums, Piano | Mark Linkous, Scott Minor, Steve Albini, Alan Weatherhead |
| Todd Rundgren | Space Force | Drums | Todd Rundgren |
| Sparks | The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte | Drums | Sparks |
| Sparks & Todd Rundgren | Your Fandango | Drums | Sparks & Todd Rundgren |
| Sparks | A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip | Drums | Sparks |
| Laura Veirs | Fading of Stars | Drums | Tucker Martine |
| Sparks | Hippopotamus | Drums | Sparks |
| Arjan Miranda | Spiritual America | Drums | Randall Dunn |
| Emmylou Harris | The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris | Drums | Daniel Lanois, Don Was, Buddy Miller |
| Aoife O'Donovan | Man In A Neon Coat: Live From Cambridge | Drums | None |
| Marissa Nadler | Strangers | Drums | Randall Dunn |
| Karl Blau | Introducing Karl Blau | Congas | Tucker Martine |
| Aoife O'Donovan | In The Magic Hour | Drums | Tucker Martine |
| Laura Veirs | Warp and Weft | Drums | Tucker Martine |
| The Avett Brothers | Magpie and the Dandelion | Drums | Rick Rubin |
| Passion Pit | Gossamer | Drums | Chris Zane |
| Aoife O’Donovan | Fossils | Drums | Tucker Martine |
| The Avett Brothers | The Carpenter | Drums | Rick Rubin |
| Portugal. The Man | In the Mountain in the Cloud | Drums | John Hill |
| Theophilus London | Timez Are Weird These Days | Drums, Keyboards | John Hill |
| Sparks | The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman | Drums | Sparks |
| His Name Is Alive | The Eclipse | Drums, Percussion | Warren Defever |
| Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse, & David Lynch | Dark Night of the Soul | Drums, Percussion, Wurlitzer | Danger Mouse |
| Gnarls Barkley | The Odd Couple | Drums | Danger Mouse |
| Brandi Carlile | Downpour (Live From Boston) | Drums | None |
| Joker's Daughter | The Last Laugh | Drums | Danger Mouse |
| Martina Topley-Bird | The Blue God | Drums | Danger Mouse |
| The Shortwave Set | Replica Sun Machine | Drums | Danger Mouse |
| Daniel Lanois | Here Is What Is | Drums | Daniel Lanois |
| Daniel Lanois | Santiago | Drums | Daniel Lanois |

## Selected filmography

| Film | Credit | Director | Year |
| Annette | Himself | Leos Carax | 2021 |
| The Sparks Brothers | Himself | Edgar Wright | 2021 |
| The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris | Himself | Justin Kreutzmann | 2016 |
| loudQUIETloud: a film about the Pixies | Himself | Steven Cantor | 2006 |